Precast reinforced tile beam and span tile floor structure



Jan. 1l, 1938. c. BRIDGMAN Er AL 2,105,106

' PRECAST REINFORCED TILE BEAM AND SPAN 'TILE 'FLOOR STRUCTURE Filedoct. 27., 195e pointed out in our claims,

Patented Jan. 11,1938

UNITED STATES PRECAST RINFORCED TILE BEAM AND SPAN TILE FLOOR STB'UCTURECharles T. Bridgman, Desl Moines, and Henry Giese, Ames, Iowa, assignorsto Iowa State College Alumni Association,

Incorporated,

Ames, Iowa, a corporation of Iowa Application October 27,

3 Claims.

Our present invention relates to a floor structure involving the use ofpre-cast reinforced tile beams and span tile.

More particularly, it is the purpose of curinvention to provide in sucha structure beams inade of pre-cast tile. Each such tile has a centralbody portion and has at its opposite sides below its top, upwardlyopening channels to receive concrete and steel reinforcing. i

Thus itis our object to provide a floor structure having invertedT-beams, each made of tile of the kind above described, laid end to endwith mortar joints, and having the channel on each sidesubstantiallyfilled with concrete in which is reinforcing steel.

The span tile project above the beams. A thin slab of concrete is placedon this beam and span tile structure;r The concrete flows into the endsof the span tile and covers the top and upper side portions of thebeams, whereby we bondv the entire structure together in such manner asto provide maximum load carrying strength in what is a T-beam floorstructure,

With these and otherobjects in view, our invention consists in theconstruction, arrangement and combination of 'the various parts of ourpre-cast reinforced tile beam and span tile iloor structure, whereby theobjects contemplated arel attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth,d illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in w ch:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of one' of the tile used in making theinverted T-beam which forms a. part of our floor structure.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of our iioor structure illustratingvarious steps in the construction; and

Figure 3 is a detail, sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2,of a completed iioor.

In the accompanying drawing, we have used the reference character A toindicate generally the tile used in making the beam.` The tile Acomprises a central body portion having the form of an ordinary hollowtile, having the top II), sides Il, and the bottom I2, and having thecentral opening I3, extending lengthwise through the tile.

Projecting laterally Afrom the bottom I2 in oppositer directions are theextensions Il, which terminate in upwardly extending walls I 5.

There is thus formed at the side of each central body member an upwardlyopening channel, such as is indicated .at I6. e

The tile is preferably formed with lengthwise corrugations I] on its topI0, side walls II and 1936, Serial No. `107,838

(Cl. 'l2-66) in the upper surface of the extensions I4 and the innerfaces of the walls I5.

Referring now to Figure 2, our improved floor structure includes beams Bformed fromthe tile yA in the manner hereinafter more fully described,

span tile C,and a concrete slab D.

vOne ofthe advantages in our struct-ure arises from the fact that thebeams B may be made on the job by placing a number of tile A end to endon any siutable support, such as a plank, with the adjacent ends of thetile buttered with mortar, then concrete I8 is pourned into the channelsat the sides of the beam, and steel reinforcing rods I9 are properlyembedded in the concrete It. A

It will, of course, be understood that the size of the tile beam may bevaried and that the v size ofthe reinforcing may also be varieddepending upon the job under construction. l

The beam B can be made of the desired length.

After `the concrete is cured, the beams may be placed in properly spacedposition in the building,

Span tile C are set on mortar beds on and between successive beams B, asillustrated `in Figure 3. The span tile may be hollow tile of suchlength and `size as may be selected for the purpose. Ordinarily theywill vary from twelve to twenty-four inches in length.

It will be observed that another important advantage in this structureliesin the arrangement, whereby the ends of the span tile C havepositive support on the horizontal shoulders formedA by theconcrete I8in the channels I6,

Thus we have the"advantage that the span tile do not depend on avertical bond for support, but have the solid shoulder or shelf thusafforded. The parts are so proportionedand assembled that when the spantile have been laid, they project above the tile of the beams B enoughto allow access to the passages through them. The `.span tile are alsoso laid that concrete may ow between their ends and the` walls II of thetile'A of they beams B.

vNext soft concrete is poured on top of the span tile and beams asindicated at D.

The concrete of the slab D flows down between the ends of the span tileC into the ,spaces between such ends and the side walls of the tile Adown to the concrete I8.

Some of the concrete D ilows into the ends of the span tile C asindicated at 22 inFigure 3. There is thus aiiorded an intimate and verystrong bond between the concrete of the slab D. and the span tile andthe beams B.

An important advantage in the structure hereinbefore described lies inthe free adaptability of the structure for making various spans to carrya variety of loads. With ve variables, adjustment can be had for gettingany needed strength, for example, for .structures ranging fromresidences to warehouses.

It is an easy matter to vary the length of the beams, to use reinforcingof different strength,

- to vary the length of the span tile and consequently the spacing ofthe beams, to vary the depth of the span tile and to vary the thicknessof the concrete topping, and thus adapt the fioor structure to theparticular job. All this can be done with one size of beam tile.

We have made and supervised a great many experiments as a result ofwhich design tables have been prepared, which are available forbuilders.

By following these tables, the builders can construct iioors, ceilings,or the like for various spans or live loads. Furthermore thisconstruction has come into practical use in residence and commercialbuildings, and has the approval of numerous city engineers for thebuilding codes of their cities.

Another reason for the acceptance of our floor structure is the economywith which it can be built.

The use of forms and shoring is entirely eliminated.

By theY particular construction here illustrated, we have beenable toproduce a composite rein- Aforced tile and concrete T-beam iioorstructure with a minimum of weight and hence of cost. By our design anduse of material we have been able to utilize the strength of thematerials most effectively and have reduced the material and weight inthe zone -of `the neutral axis.

We claim as our invention:

1. In a floor structure, a series of beams, each comprising tile laidend to end with 'mortar joints, each tile having formed at its oppositesides below its top laterally projecting, upwardly opening channels, thechannels being substantially illed with reinforced concrete, hollow spantile laid uponA and between the successive beams withI their endsresting directly on the horizontal shoulders thus formed, and concreteabove the beams and span tile bonded to the interior of the span tileand to the first-named concrete and to the upper side walls and tops ofthe beams.

2. A reinforced tile beam comprising a series of similar tile laid endto end, with mortar joints, each tile comprising a hollow central body,having a top, spaced sides and bottom, lateral extensions projectinghorizontally in opposite directions from the bottom, having at theirouter edges vertical upstanding nat-topped walls terminating short ofthe top of the tile'to form channels at the sides of the tile, thechannels at the sides -of the beam having therein concrete, formingcontinuous bodies, and metal reinforcing rods in the respective bodiesof concrete.

3. A reinforced tile beam comprising a series of substantially similartile laid end to end with mortar joints, each tile comprising a hollowcentral body with a top, spaced sides and a bottom and lateralextensions projecting horizontally in opposite directions from thebottom and terminating in upstanding flat-topped fianges shorter thanthe central body whereby channels are formed at the sides of the tile,said beam being combined with span tile having their ends resting uponsaid anges, the span tile being hollow with their open ends adjacent thebeam and extending above the beam, reinforcing rods in said channelsnear the bottoms thereof, concrete filling said channels and arrangedbetween the span tile and the beam and projecting into the open ends ofthe span tile, the span tile being arranged close together side by sideand covered by concrete.

CHARLES T. BRIDGMAN. HENRY GIESE.

